Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams insisted Wednesday that a campaign speech in which he blasted left-wing politics wasn’t aimed specifically at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — after he was dressed down during a Washington, DC, meeting with the city’s congressional delegation, The Post has learned.
During a news conference following the sit-down, Adams said, “I’m not running against a member of Congress, I’m running against philosophies.”
But he also acknowledged that his remarks at a Monday fundraiser — which were caught on camera and exclusively reported by The Post — “gave the appearance that there was a personal attack on Alexan — Congresswoman Cortez.”
“Her name was never mentioned by me,” Adams said.
“I’m running against philosophies and we have different philosophical beliefs. And while you campaign, you point out your different philosophical beliefs.”
Adams’ attempt at damage control followed a closed-door meeting at which Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn) warned him not to attack members of the city’s congressional delegation and instead present a united front, according to a source with knowledge of what happened.
Velazquez noted that elected officials’ remarks can be easily misinterpreted, especially on social media, another source said. The behind-closed-doors rebuke came a day after The Post reported on Adams’ vow to potential donors that he was running against the Democratic Socialists of America and their ideologies.
“I’m no longer running against candidates. I’m running against a movement. All across the country, the DSA socialists are mobilizing to stop Eric Adams,” he told supporters in Queens Monday.
Adams — who ostensibly attended the DC meeting in his current role as Brooklyn’s borough president — responded by saying he has to stand up for his beliefs and had never singled out or rebuked anyone by name, the sources said.
Ocasio-Cortez (D-The Bronx, Queens) was present and reacted by raising her eyebrows in apparent surprise and disbelief, a source said.
The progressive darling AOC is closely aligned with the DSA, which calls her its “foremost socialist superstar” and says she “inspired up to 10,000 people to join” the nonprofit organization.
She is also is an outspoken supporter of the “Defund the Police” movement who recently suggested that “if we want to reduce the number of people in our jails, the answer is to stop building more of them.”
Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, of Staten Island and Brooklyn, was excluded from the gathering at the Democratic National Committee headquarters, which was organized by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-Manhattan).
During his public remarks Wednesday, Adams — a former NYPD captain — said, “I don’t believe in disbanding police departments. They play a role. I believe they should function. And I point out my philosophical beliefs.”
Wednesday’s meeting was listed on Adam’s official borough president calendar, and his office issued a statement afterward in which he thanked Nadler for organizing it.
“This was an important opportunity for me to share priorities where New Yorkers need the Federal government’s budgetary and policy support,” the statement said.
But Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Long Island, Queens) acknowledged during the news conference that Adams “came here as a gracious winner of his primary election.”
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) also said that Malliotakis’ notable absence wasn’t her own doing.
“I don’t believe the invitation was extended to her by Chairman Nadler,” Jeffries said.
“It’s not clear to me that it would have been appropriate for Congresswoman Malliotakis to be here or whether that would have served her own political interests. But I’m confident Eric Adams is going to win Staten Island.”
Malliotakis has issued an open invitation to meet with Adams to discuss the issues facing her district, her office said.
An Adams spokesperson declined to comment on the meeting beyond the official statement and a spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez also declined to comment.
Nadler’s office didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry.
Meanwhile, the Republican candidate for mayor, Guardian Angels founder and former radio host Curtis Sliwa, called Adams’ comments regarding Ocasio-Cortez and the DSA “brazen” and “chutzpah.”
“His war is not against the DSA, that battle is over,” Sliwa said during a news conference in Manhattan. “His war is now against Curtis Sliwa to see who becomes the next mayor of New York City.”
Sliwa added: “By the way, if you’re going to take on the DSA, you have to say AOC. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.”
“It’s like, stuck in his throat. He can’t even say it,” Sliwa chided.
“[She’s] the person who controls the purse strings, the person who is the head of the DSA in New York City, the most powerful DSA person other than [US Sen.] Bernie Sanders [I-Vt.] himself.”
In a prepared statement, Sumathy Kumar, co-chairperson of the DSA’s New York City chapter said, “We’re glad Eric Adams recognizes the growing power of the socialist movement here in New York.”
In the coming year, we look forward to continuing our fight for a just city where everyone is guaranteed housing, healthcare, and good jobs,” Kumar added.
“Given that Adams has claimed he’s ‘reclaiming the progressive mantle’, we’re surprised to hear that he feels so threatened by our vision.”
Later Wednesday, the NYC-DSA chapter blasted out an e-fundraising solicitation to supporters in a bid to raise money off of Adams’ criticism.
Under the heading “Class Warfare Has Begun,” DSA said, “Last night, during a private fundraiser for a Republican City Council Member, Eric Adams declared `war’ on our socialist movement. Surrounded by real estate developers and corporate vultures, Adams raved that he was ready to fight to “regain control of our cities.”
“What Adams really means is that he’s ready to wage a scorched earth campaign against New York’s working-class.”
Additional reporting by Carl Campanile
